Yet Another Reason Jimmy Fallon Rocks!

Ariana Grande nails her vocal impressions then Jimmy jumps in with his own. Sting. I said STING! 

Love it!

100 Assorted Summer Resolutions

School’s out for the summer! We love this time of year, especially since it comes after a seriously long, cold, snowfall-record-breaking winter. 

It’s a great time to relax, and soak up the sun in our shorts and flip-flops, but I know myself. If I don’t write at least a few goals down, the entire summer will pass by and all I’ll have to show for it will be a farmer’s tan and regrets for all the things we didn’t do. So, why let the opportunity for nature hikes and museum strolls slip away when I can make a list and refer to it whenever the phrase ‘I’m bored’ is uttered?

I’ve seen some stuff circulating online about summer lists, so I consulted my 2013 resolutions, as well as my 2014 work-life balance notes to compile my own list of activities. Just as ice cream comes in a variety of flavors, this list contains an assortment of resolutions.

And it’s not just about the kids, either—parents get bored too! I’ve included ideas for family fun, lazy summer days, and date nights too. Go ahead and take a peek, you might find something to do when your family gets bored this summer. Repeats are okay because it's summer. If you like, share your ideas in the comments section. There are a couple months of activities for us to fill, after all. Fun ideas are appreciated.

2014 Random Summer Resolutions

1.     Play

2.     Unwind

3.     Be silly—good, clean knock, knock jokes can get the ball rolling

4.     Hit the beach

5.     Go on a picnic

6.     Ride bikes

7.     Visit the zoo

8.     Go on family walks

9.     Paddleboat/canoeing

10.   Have a special date night dinner and concert

11.   Have a special family dinner out to celebrate summer

12.   Play in the rain and splash in the puddles

13.   Hug more

14.   Kiss more

15.   Unplug more

16.   Let the kids stay up later a few nights

17.   Sleep in late a few days

18.   Have breakfast in our jammies a few times

19.   Swim

20.   Golf

21.   Read 10 books—about a book a week until school starts. This is a big task since I’m also publishing a book soon

22.   Finish and publish the book mentioned in item above

23.   Play tag with the kids

24.   Sit outside one sunny day without mowing, weeding or yard work

25.   Run through the sprinklers

26.   Make homemade ice cream with the kids

27.   Grow fruits and veggies—we’ll have to get new tomatoes, the deer ate the ones we planted

28.   Take a real family vacation

29.   Pick colors and paint a couple rooms in serious need of ‘refreshing’

30.   Can something—jam, tomatoes, just to try it

31.   Take a class—maybe a class on how to can things

32.   Make a grown-up appetizer for dinner one night, even if my husband and I are the only ones who eat it

33.   Make a list of people to call, and call them

34.   Send handwritten letters to 5 people I know

35.   Go to a movie

36.   Camping

37.   Bonfire

38.   Try a new food

39.   Try a new drink

40.   Make snow cones

41.   Learn to flip pizza dough

42.   Make something

43.   Have more game nights

44.   Go on a nature hike

45.   See fireworks

46.   Take a drive in the country

47.   Go to a ballgame

48.   Listen to more music

49.   Frisbee

50.   Tennis

51.   Go to an arcade

52.   Drive at a track day event

53.   Plan a dream kitchen

54.   Teach the kids something fun

55.   Learn something fun

56.   Roast marshmallows

57.   Barbecue

58.   Have a party

59.   Light some sparklers (being careful not to burn holes in the tablecloth, like last time)

60.   Watch the fireflies when the sparklers go out

61.   Enjoy a starry night

62.   Find a constellation

63.   Relax and unwind

64.   Try a new slow cooker recipe. Found this post on how to make almost any recipe work in a slow cooker

65.   Water balloon toss

66.   Sing

67.   Dance

68.   Train ride

69.   Write a story for my kids

70.   Play hopscotch

71.   Sleepover

72.   All night movie fest

73.   Binge watch a new TV show

74.   Sleep outside

75.   Practice my Finn McMissile voice (right now it sounds a lot like Johnny Depp in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, seriously)

76.   Play euchre

77.   Create a family friendly outdoor obstacle course

78.   Early morning run/jog/walk

79.   Spin around until we get dizzy

80.   Head north

81.   Head south

82.   Head nowhere in particular

83.   Have a relaxing day at home

84.   Spa visit

85.   Be brave enough to find out what’s been growing in our compost bin the past five years

86.   Learn a card trick, maybe share it with the kids

87.   Clear out closets and donate stuff we don’t use

88.   Visit family and friends

89.   Show more love

90.   Practice patience

91.   Be goofy

92.   Watch a movie from our childhood with our kids

93.   Sketch a tree house or a garden

94.   Cider mill late summer

95.   Take photos, print and send some to the grandparents

96.   Watch a sunrise

97.   Watch a sunset

98.   Snuggle

99.   Smile

100. Relax

What’s on your list?

Eight Random Distractions for Tuesday

Because we could all use some fun, silly, thoughtful, humorous stuff sometimes. 

The Night Shift (NBC)—Crazy and good.

Dave Chapelle on Letterman (CBS) tonight—He jokes about quitting his show, claiming to be 7 years late to work.

J Lo and Jimmy Fallon Tight Pants Dance-Off—'Nuff said.

If you have a team in the NBA Finals (ABC), congrats! Otherwise, you can read the signs slamming LeBron's cramps. What is up with that, anyway?

Mustache Baby—This just looks silly. 

People.com: Celebrity News—What they wear, where they shop, etc.

22 Jump Street—Probably more raunchy humor, sure to make you laugh.

Butler business booming because of Downton Abbey—Oh, where to begin.

After St. Patrick's Day funny

This is a day late, but it was too fun to share.

I noticed this sign posted on the door of a local pub yesterday…just after a short, disheveled looking, red-haired guy peeked out and squinted at the midday sun. A leprechaun? Perhaps. Most certainly, he enjoyed a long St. Patrick's celebration.

A sign like this would come in handy around here. Ever wish you could post a sign like this and get away for a day? What would you do?

Happy Sweet Week - Gearing up for Valentine's Day

It takes some effort to dig out of the snow, if you haven't yet, and prepare for Valentine's Day. We actually have a few reasons why we celebrate. We've got young kids, birthdays and school parties this week, so you can understand our house is happy Heart Day is coming. I know others don't feel the same and that's fine for them, but try not to rain on our Valentine's Day parade. 

Here are a few things you might consider doing this week to make it more fun for everyone:

1. Share some chocolate. Who doesn't enjoy getting special treats every now and then? Besides, it has to last you until the furry guy comes in April. 

2. Share some wine with someone over 21, preferably your spouse, significant other, or a friend. 

3. Can't or don't drink? Try sparkling cider, it'll do the trick. 

4. Take a bath. Who gets to do this anymore? It's totally indulgent and really worth it to relax. Why not make it ultra luxurious? Light a couple candles and play some soft music while you soak. 

5. Make hot chocolate and throw in some marshmallow hearts. You can make your own with this recipe, I have no idea if they're good. I just thought they'd be cool to try. I'll be too busy with school party/birthday celebrating, so I'm trying the bagged stuff.

6. Enjoy a romantic getaway. Seriously. You can do it even this late in the game. Pick a spot and go. Too busy? Take five minutes one early morning and stare out at the quiet snow with a loved one. 

7. Send a selfie. Draw an 'I love you' sign. Hold it up. Snap a pic. Send it to your sweetie and see what happens. 

8. Hug or kiss somebody you love. 

9. Hug yourself. Do it. Then take a selfie and share it with all of us here. It'd be funny!

10. Smile. Share. Be Happy. Repeat.

Chocolate-Caramel Covered Pretzels and Other Festive Foodie Gifts

This is melted chocolate in a cup…

And this is more…

I have my good friend Debbie to thank for the idea. She gave us these delicious homemade dipped pretzels a couple years ago, and I dreamed of making them ever since. 

This was our year. I really wanted to make something homemade for my child's teacher, and realized it might be fun to give a gift from our kitchen since we love food and cooking—when we have time and it's not an ordeal to get the right ingredients. I even love the occasional culinary challenge, but these days simpler is better. 

I bought gift tins at the craft store a few weeks ago. Then I searched for recipes and eventually narrowed it down to three to five possibles—and changed even those a couple days before the big cook-off. 

I drove out in the snow to a local baking supply store, thanks again to my friend for the idea to go there. It was so much fun to see all the packages of milk, dark and white chocolate, and the sprinkles, sanding sugar and caramel. YUM!

I bought the ingredients and my family all participated in creating these festive goodies. Within 24 hours we made these chewy and delicious Chocolate-Caramel Covered Pretzels, Super Sugar Cookies and Strawberry Oatmeal Bars. 

The stars must have been aligned, or maybe I should consider it a Christmas Miracle because this just doesn't happen any more. We don't usually have enough time, energy, resources and participation to make something like this happen. So, this year's holiday bake-off and  gift giving goes down in the books as a special event. If we're lucky, we'll repeat it again sometime in the future, or even next year. But, for now I'll sit back and enjoy one of the sugar cookies we didn't give away because it wasn't quite round enough, or some other reason, say thanks for our foodie success, and try not to think of how much more we need to finish before Santa Claus comes to town. 

Enjoy the Holiday Season!